Francis tunica



(No Model.)

P. TUNIOA.

GIRDER PIGKET FENCE.

No. 284,687. Patented Sept. 11, 188 3 N. PETERS. Phuaumo n m. wminmn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS rUNIcA, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

GIRDER PICKET FENCE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,687, dated September 11, 1883.

Application filed January 22,1883. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS TUNIoA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Girder Picket Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in fences and anchoring devices therefor, or means of fastening the same to the ground; and it consists in a peculiar construction of the parts, to be hereinafter more fully described, and shown in the specification and claims.

In thedrawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of one span of my fence. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the anchor-posts and foundation-blocks.

3 is a plan view of same, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

I denominate my invention the Girder Picket Fence, and a represents a cast-iron girder, which may be made of any length, extending between two anchor-posts, b. The posts are constructed of cast-iron, made hollow to permit the passage of the anchor-rod m, which passes down through the anchorfoundation, and terminates in a flat head, (I, holding in place a broad flat plate, f, of metal, under the foundation. At the top of the anchor-rod is a screw-thread, on which is a nut, e, placed over another metallic plate, e, resting on shoulders formed in the post, by which the post is rigidly secured to the foundation.

The foundation 0 may be either concrete or stone embedded in the earth to a sufficient depth; and each post is surmounted by a cap, 6 to exclude moisture. The caps are made in ornamental designs, or may, as in Fig. 2, support a gas-lamp. Resting on the foundations are the ends of the girders, which by their meeting join or inclose the foot, of each post or connect with the base of the post; and let into the posts are the upper and lower rails, Z Z, constructed of drawn wrought-iron, and having openings through them to receive the pickets These pickets are made of gaspipe or cylindrical iron rods, of size to accord with the openings in the rails Z Z, through which they pass, and they are provided with screw-threads at the bottom,to screw into openings in the girders a, and have other screwthreads at top, on which are screwed orna mental heads i. Each picket has riveted near the top a pin ring or support, 71, which supports the top rail, 1, and prevents its sagging. Between the girder a and the lower rail, 1, are cast-iron crosspieces k, fitted to the girder, rail, and pickets, which serve as braces, and short pickets g, of similar construction to the pickets 9, pass through the lower rail only and screw into the girder a alternately between the pickets g.

The advantages of my fence are cheapness v and simplicity of construction, durability, and

beauty of appearance, rigidity of alignment,- and impossibility of sagging or getting out of line. I

The spans may be made of any length, the size of the girder being increased proportionately to the length of the span.

I construct my fence as follows: In openings made in the ground, at suitable distances apart,

I place concrete or Stone foundation-blocks c, having an opening vertically through them to receive the anchor-rod m, which is provided at the bottom with the head (I and the plate f. Upon this is placed the hollow post b. The upper plate is adjusted in position on the shoul- 8o ders in the post, the nut is tightened, and the post is thus secured in place. The girders are then placed in position on the foundations, the ends of the rails Z Z are inserted in openings made for the purpose in the posts, the pickets passed through the openings in the rails and screwed fast in the screw-holes in the girder, the cross pieces or braces 70 inserted, the pin-rings riveted in place, the ornamental heads attached, and the fence is complete.

I am aware of the patent granted to Timothy Rogers, November 26, 1872, No. 133,489, and I- do not claim the invention patented to him. In this patent the rod does not pass through the base-piece, as shown in my app1i-. 5 cation, so that there is much greater strain at the point of connection near the top of the base or foundation; and the foundation is, in fact, part of the post, while in my invention they are separate; but the attachment issecure and 100 'perfect.

In a fence-span consisting of two hollow posts, I) I mounted on foundations or blocks.

upper end of the post, and said anchor-rod having a screw-threaded upper end, on which the nut 6 turns, locking the post in position, I 5 all constructed and operating substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my sig naturein presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS TUNICA.

Witnesses:

J. B. SAWHILL, RoBT. Yarns. 

